St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-05
WILL IT Be SUSPENDED?
Arguments Before the Railroad COM
mission on the Suspension of
Part of the Law.
Senator Pope, Who Drew the Bill, and
the Road Officials ALI Have
Their Say.
6oinqs in the Courts on Saturday,
Hen Seen at the Hotels
Local Notes.
WANT THE LAW SUSPENDED
Arguments on the Suspension of
the State Railroad Law.

for a suspension of section 6, the long
and short haul clause of the Pope rail-
road law, so as to allow the company to
lower its rates and compete with the
Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Paul, by
making the same rates between ST. Paul.
Minneapolis. Red Wing and points on
the Cannon Valley division was held by
the state railroad commission yesterday,
commencing at 10 a. III. The
application was fully referred in these
columns at the time the circular set
ting hearing was issued. Mr.. Trues-
dale, vice president and general man
ager, appeared for the road, and Sena-
tor o. Nj. Pope, of Mankato, president
of the Minnesota Business Mems asSo-
citation, the author of the law, and 9th
erS were present in opposition. Among
the professors were 0. II. Perkins, repre-
Pennington, Mortified, FaFibault and
Owatonna, J. Il. Parshall, of the
Faribault board of trade, L. Z.
Rogers. of lie Sueur: c. p. Carpenter.
of FarmintOn; Hon. c. d. Keyes, Of
Faribault, and j. j. Mullen, of Waba-
Sha. J. c. Boyden, general freight
agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul. was also present, but not as Il rep
sentative of his road. Vice President
Eric Olson, of the Farmers alliance,
was nearby, taking down notes of every
thing said. Quite number of inter-
eSted gentlemen were present. Follow
ing is the giSt of the argument, Mr..
TrueSdale opening:
Mr.. Truesdale-r The railroads have
made reduction of from Is to 40 per
cent. upon merchandise in Minnesota
in the past thirty days. Before these
rates went into effect a similar reduc-
ton was made upon the Cannon Valley
division. making the same rate per mile,
although the rate has been little
higher per ton per mile. These rates
we have now in effect are as low as our
company can afford, but to allow us to
do business we must have rate to Red
Wing (23 cents as low as the Chicago.
Milwaukee Il st. Paul, but we could
not make these rates for all points
along the line. Should we put
down the rates upon the entire
q st. Paul would again
lower their rates and it would be hard
to tell where the matter would end. If
there is one case in the state where the
benefits of section 1 should be allowed
it is this one, as our company will GER
tainly be compelled to
GO OUT OF BUSINESS
at these points unless aid is given in
this direction. Forty-Seven miles of our
track runs side by side with the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul. and the business
would not warrant reduction of 3311SS
per cent. all round.
General Freight Agent Kimball-I
understand the interstate commission
has granted this right in certain cases
where there was a reason for it.
&c. Boyden, of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee d st. Paul, was called, but he said
he was only present as a spectator and
had no authority to say anything, and
the road would be considered as not
being represented.
Then the attack of the opposition
commenced, Messrs. Pope, Perkins,
Parshall, Rogers, Carpenter and Keyes
all contending that the suspension of
the long and short haul clause would be
to establish a principle that would break
the backbone of the law and build up
st Paul and Minneapolis to the disad-
vantage of the smaller trade centerS.
Senator Pope-The Minnesota Bust
ness Mems association, through its Off
GERS, desires to solemnly protest against
this application being granted. Repre-
sentatives are here from Mortified,
Faribault, Owatonna and other cities.
This road was given a land grant of 275,-
600 acres and bonuses amounting to
S141, 900 on condition that it ran line
from Red Wing to some point upon
the Minnesota river. This road,
in justice to that section,
could not. and who had no right to, COM
pete for the st. Paul and Minneapolis
business. The Manufacturers and job
berS' union of MankatO wanted also to
protest, as do all the people tributary to
these points who had given their land
and money to build up the road.
Mr.. Truesdale-Why was this sus-
pending clause added if the intention was
never to have the section suspended?
Mr. Pope-A majority of the railroad
committee thought there was no neces-
sity for it, but it was put in to satisfy a
few and so that the passage of the bill
would not he endangered.
Mr.. PerkinS-AlthOugh / am unac-
quainted with this subject of long and
short haulS, yet believe the sentiment
of the communities | represent gener-
ally indorses what Mr.. Pope has said.
We are here to protest against our
products being taken to st. Paul and
Minneapolis and having our trade ruined
to build up those two cities. / have been
told that the suspension would benefit
both Faribault and Mortified, but we
believe the law is all right. and we are
opposed to any discrimination, either in
our favor or against US.
Mr.. ParShall-I have been authorized
to say that the people of FaribauIt are
not responsible for the investment of the
Minneapolis IL st. Louis. This company
was not built upon the basis of st. Paul
and Minneapolis business, but upon
local business, and plenty of land has
been given to it to make up the def
cheney until the road should find its
business on paying basis. The COM
pany is asking the commission to do
something it
COULD NOT AFFORD
to have done, else the rates are already
considerably too high, and it wouldn't
want such low rates if the company
would lose by it.
Mr.. Rogcrs-We have been bled long
enough to build up the large centers,
and now as fast as a man shows business
capacity he is compelled to go to those
favored cities. All manner of discrim-
1na'lon has been practised against the
outside towns. We only ask a reason
able rate-no advantage, but we do not
want rates all around us lower than
ours: This road was projected to go to
Mankato, which would give us business
1T IS folly for it to think of competing
for st. Paul and Minneapolis business.
Mr.. Trucsdale-Does it injure Water
vile to have the Minneapolis 81 st.
Louis carry goods to these points at the
same rates as the Chicago, Milwaukee
d st. Paul?
Mr.. Rogers-If you enter this wedge
into the law it is not worth anything.
Give the law fair trial.
Mr.. Carpenter-I have been requested
to enter the protest of Pennington bust
ness men. Pennington is now being
Disseminated against, but we don't
come here to discuss this special case
we want no suspension on general prin-
ciples.
Mr.. Keycs-If this law is suspended
IN one case as between competing points,
II must necessarily be in all cases for